Apparatus for disposing water in fireproof tanks



w. s. HUFF APPARATUS FOR DISPOSING WATER IN FIREPROOF TANKS Filed March 12. 1921 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTURNEIS May a 1924.

. w. s. HUFF APPARATUS FOR DISPOSING WATER IN FIREPROOF TANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 12. 1921 Fig. 6

INVENTOR 6 5% W/EVESSES May 6 1924.

w. s. HUFF APPARATUS FOR DI SPOSING WATER IN FIREPROOF TANKS Filed March 12 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 llulllnlnnl INVENTOR WZZJOn/ ATTORNEYS WITNESSES treasures WILSON SYLVESTER. HUII",

OF OKLAHOMA. CITY, OKLAHQMA.

APPARATUS FOR DISPOSING WATER IN FIREPROO'F TANKS.

Application filed March 12, 1921.

To all whom it may; concern Be it known that I, TILSON SYLVESTER HUFF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Oklahoma City, in the county of Oklahoma and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Disposing Water in Fireproof Tanks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in fire-proof tanks, and it consists in the constructions, combinations and mode of'operation herein descr'bed and claimed.

One of the foremost objects of the invention is to provide a fire-proof tank for holding oil and other nflammable liquids, one of the principal features residing in the method of so disposing the water falling upon the floating tank which covers the surface of the liquid, that all danger of the fioating tank tipping over to one side is obviated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a floating tank or cover for the surface of the liquid in a container,.which ineludes means for disposing the water, falling thereupon, in a predetermined manner. A still further object of the invention is to provide a floating tank, made up of either tanks or compartments formed in any desired manner, so as to provide containers for the Water falling upon the floating tank and thus prevent any likelihood of the floating tank tipping dangerously to one side byvirtue of an unbalanced accumulation of Water. 7

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, reference being had. to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of an improved fire-proof' tank, constructed in accordance with my invention, in which the floating tank includes a partition forming an annular dry space, v

Figure 2 is a plan view or a modified con" struction offloating tank, in which it,is composed of'a great numberot' compatments or tanks suitably secured together,

Figure 3 is a detail cross section on the line 33 of Figure 2, showing how the tanks are secured together,

Figure 4 is a vertical section similar to Serial No. 451,873.

Figure l, in which the annular dry space is supplemented by a plurality of concentric partitions with intervening radiating Walls,

Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line 55 of Figure 4, clearly illustrating the construction just describe F igurefi is a vertical floating tank, with a plurality of compartments of various shapes,

Figure 7 is a" horizontal section on the line 77.of Figure 6,illustrating the compartments mentioned and also showing each to include a surrounding dry space,

Figure 8 is a vertical section of: an oil container, illustrating a Water deflector for the floating tank, with means for disengaging it should parts thereof catch on a projection on the container wall, and

Figure 9 is an enlarged section of a portion of the structure in Figure 8, illustrating the mode of operation. I

This is a continuation in part of my co-' pending application for Letters Patent on fire-proof tanks, filed July 21,1919, Serial No. 312,188, and relates to the means for so disposing the water falling upon the floating tank that the danger of tipping and consequent disaligning of the tank, is entirely obviated. Generally stated, the invention comprises a tank 1, floating on. the surface of the liquid in the outer stationary tank or container 2, with a circular partition 3, defining an annular dry spaced, for the pun pose of confining rain water to the center of the floating tank. Since numerous forms of the invention are illustrated, each is de scribed separately The form in Figure 1, comprises the elements described above, and in addition shows a layer of sand 5, to the depth of approximately 5 or 6 inches, over the whole surface of the floatingtank inside ofthe annular partition 3; The space 4 is kept dry by a hood 6. Angle irons 7 and 8 of suitable formation, provide the mountings to which the respective upper and lower edges of the hood are secure A deflector 9 directs water falling into the container 2 to the center or" the floating tank 1. This deflector is suitably supported at 10 to an extension 11 of the floating tank.

section illustrating a balance tile tank.

The extension serves more inen the one purpose of supporting tbs defiecior.

31 well 12 sec red at the bosaom to tbe extension ll by iueiins of fusible substance 13, defines space, or rather an annular pocket for containing; sand 14, or either fire extinguishing meme-rial. The bead 15 around the upper edge of the wall 12, is suitably breced et l5 the extension 11, to hold the u veer part of the wall susoended when the lower part is released by virtue of the melting of the fusible substance.

Normally the annular pocket 1?. running around the lion rig tank 1, is empty. Should u fire occur ble subsiarice will soon melt and in releasing the lower para. of the wall 12 will pe mil. the sand 14. to run our into the annular poclqci l7 and so act to extinguish the in ceimein instances the pocket 17 is either partially or Wholly filled with sand, gravel, sleg or like material. for the purpose oipressing the free side of the flexible sheet w b constitutes tlie pocket 1'4", against the i .ili of the corilzriiner 2 for the purpose of ind-zine a tightjoint.

This feature closed in the c pending application above referred so, and need no: he described in detail here. it is suiiicien't to say that the flexible sheet ronsiii 1 ug the pocket 117; is

secured at the lower end to the floating tank the free end extending in contact' vith the wall of the coals nor 2, substantially as iilustrated in i igure The form in. Figure 23 sliows e [oetiog ionic l which is made up 1 :1. rele'riv greatuuuiber of tanks 18 of an desire-5 .sse being soured to each o't iy as shown in Fig} ure 3.

shown lclose :md .viili the upper edges curled at 19 to include the. vertical i irons 20.

These All parts 3. togel'liei either by means of rivets 21 or equivalent" securing devices. i5. mil-y of stay "holes. angle irons. or equivalent lrussii'ig means 22 spur ilie tank 1. t .e e de being suiliably secured on the outer Wall. irons secured to the various ieiilis, lo Sillfivltl iuldiiiomii bracing means, particularly for the outermost ones.

The whole purpose of the forts in Figures l and 2, as Well as the P forms described below. is to lice in water which naturally enters lioesiug isnk, from accumulating on one side so as to un- Gil tanks of the iype lie-rein disclosed. are very large. usually being 115 feet f .1 diameter. it is easy to see that a. fleeting of such large proporlions, of iiecessiinr will .eve e certain crooner oi? oeevemiess is size siructure or" f the invention is fully disthe bottom and such unevenness makes ii easily possible for a greater quantity of Water to accumulate at one place than in soother. The provision of tanks or compartments prevents any'uneven distribution of Water.

The form wrFzg'u/re 4,

is similar to that in Figure 1, in all respecis with the exception of a modified construc tion in the floating tank 1 There is e plurality of circular partitions 23, (30118631- trically arranged as in Figure 5, for the purpose of segregating the Water into a number of circular ools. The hood 6, which in the form in igure 1. defines, or rather produces an annular dry space, may be left,

out. entirely, it being shown merely for the purpose of illustrating its possible use.

Angle irons 2% brace the upper edges of the circular partitions 23. These partitions are addiiionally braced by meansoi' angle irons on the bottom of the fioaiin tank, to which said partitions are secured. iayers of sand 26, are placed in the various circular compartments.

The object of using sand as in Figures 1 and 4, must be made clear. The preserice of water in the sand, keeping it damp to a greater or less extent, provides a; cooling medium for the oil beneath. It muse also be pointed out that the surface of the floating tank 1., may be further subdivided by providin' 'c, radiating partitions 27 as in Figure 5, which divide the circular compartment into series of smaller compartments,

approximating the arrangement in Fig ure 2. 1 v

The form in Figure 6',

comprises a. floating tank 1, with a. deflector 28 for directing rain water towerdstlie middle of. the tank. The upper edge 29 of the deflector contacts the container 2 and aids in making a "oint between the moving and sietiouary tam s.

There is also an annular sheet 30 near'tlie bottom of the floating tank,sccured and dis posed on th order of the annular pocket 17 in Figure 1, for the purpose of forming a joint either by its mere contacting the wall of she container, or with the aid of layer of sand therein.

it is more important, however, to observe the construction of the compartments 31. These are of very peculiar shape as shown in Figure 7. They may be made of any shape whatever so long as efiosting tank with an outer circular wall results.

The inner contacting walls of the par titions chemselves are secured together by any suitable means, angle irons 3% being em ployed so brsce the upper edges, and vertical angle irons 33 being fixed at; various places to brace the walls. The furnishing" of each compartment, or section 31, is such as lOl) to include a dry channel 34. Such channel can of course be kept dry only by means of a roof or covering of some kind.

Similar roofs are iii Such a roof is shown at in Figure 6. It slopes toward the center of the compartment 31 so that water may collect there. shown in connection with the other compartments.

The form in F igm'e 8, 7

illustrates an :an-uulanj oint-forming pocket 36, similar to 17 in Figure 1, with its upper end curled inwardly sufliciently far to pro vlde a mpunting for a deflector 37 corresponding to 9 in Figures 1 and 4. The deflector is now composed of a plurality of plates in overlapping arrangement.

Each has an arm 38 secured thereto. The upper ends of the arms have pronounced curves so as to avoid all likelihood of catchin; on projections from the container wall. The upper part of the deflector 37 is also curved but it is found that the upper edge of the deflector can catch on projections from the container wall, as for example the rivets along a seam.

Consider Figures 8 and 9. Should the upper edge of the deflector 37 get caught on a seam of the container 2, there will be a tendency for the inner edge to rise as indicated by the arrow in Figure 8, the loose rivet connection 39 acting as a pivot. This movement causes the arm 38 to move outwardly into contact with the wall of the conme tainer and produce a pushing action on the deflector 37, resulting in the slight flexing of the sheet 36, which forms'the pocket, and

.the consequent disengagement of the formerly caught edge of the deflector. Sand 40 fills thepocket 36 to the require depth so as to press the free side of the flexible sheet against the outer container wall, a flexible connection 41 being employed to restrain the upper part of the pocket when the F floating tank is either removed from the container or rises such a distance-therein that the upper part of the floating tank projects above the container wall. The connection 41 runs from the place of attachment 42 (if the flexible sheet, to a suitable point above, substantially as shown in Figure 9. It is here to be noted that the flexible sheet 36 is secured at a place relatively high up on the wall'of the floating tank, rather than near the bottom as in some of the preceding forms. The likelihood of leaks occurring through the rivet holes is thereby materially lessened.

lVhile the construction and arrangement of the fireproof tank asherein described and claimed, is that of a oenerally preferred form obviously modifications and changes can be made without departing from the claims.

I claim 1. The combination of a container, a floating tank covering the liquid in the container, and a deflector carried by the floating tank and contacting the container Wall, for preventing water reaching the space between said tank and container.

2. The combination of a container, :1 floating tank covering the liquid in the container, joint-forming means between the tank and container wall, and means carried by the floating tank but disposed above said joint-forming means for keeping foreign substances from falling into said joint-forming means and deflecting them toward the center of the tank.

3. A fire-proof tank, comprising a container, and a cover for the surface of the liquid in the container, composed of a plurality of compartments, for receiving water falling upon the cover and preventing an uneven distribution of said water,

4. A fire-proof. tank, comprising a container, a fioating tank on the surface of the liquid in the container,- with a plurality of partitions defining receptacles on the floating tank, and means embodied in the floating tank for directing water intolcertain of said receptacles for ballast, leaving others of the receptacles dry.

5. ,A fire-proof tank, comprising a container, a cover on the surface of the liquid in the. container, suitably shaped compartnts consti'ucted on the cover, means covering certain of said compartments forming 'dry spaces,,and means for deflecting;- water partments.

6. A fire-proof tank, comprising a container, a cover on the surface of the liquid. in the container, suitably shaped compartments constructed on the cover, means coverihg certain of said compartments forming dry spaces, and layers of sand placed in said compartments, providing a medium checking the conduction of heat to the liquid in the container.

7. A fire-proofvtank, comprising a container, a cover on the surface of the liquid in the container,.means around the cover providing a flexible joint thcrebetween and the wall of the container to prevent evaporation, and a layerfof cooling substance on the cover, including sand.

8. A fire-proof tank, comprising a container, a floating tank on the surface of the liquid in the container, partitions forming a plurality of tanks and means by whic they are suitably braced, constituting said carried by part of the floating tank to deflect water into said compartments and aid in making a joint between the floating tank and container.

9. A fire-proof tank, comprising a storage tank, a floating tank with an annular fie); ibie pocket engaging the storage tank, and means mounted on the floating tank normal- 1y carrying a fire-extinguishing substance,

including fusible holding means adapted to be mounted to release said. substance 10. A floating cover for oil containers, having partitions composing open tanks, and means for bracing the edges of the tanks.

11. A container, a cover on the liquid therein composed of a plurality of compartments means which deflects water in respect to the container-and the cover, and means which deflects water in respect to the cover and said compartments.

12. A tank comprising a liquidcontainer,

a float adapted to be supported on the sui" ace of the iiquid, a deflector so disposed as to cover the space between the float and con tainer mails and thereby direct foreign sot stances from said space toward the center of the float, the deflector inducing por tion which is siidabie aiong the container wail surface, and means u'gon which the deflector is mounted to be carried by the float,

13. A tank comprising a liquid container, at float adapted. to be supported on the em" face of the liquid, at deflector so disposed as to cover the space between the fleet and container wesiis and thereby direct foreign substances from said space toward the cents? of the float, the deflector inciuding portion which is siidabie eiong the container waii surface, means upon which the deflector is mounted to he cari'ied by the float, and means carried by the float defining comes-rtments into which the deflector is adapted to direct water faiiing'tiiereupon.

WHJSON SYLVESTER ITJFF. 

